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When to Plant Celeriac in Carlton County, MN

Carlton County, Minnesota Zone 4a May

Top priorities for Carlton County, Minnesota gardeners in May

Your garden in Carlton County, Minnesota is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this May.

Avg. last frost May 12
Avg. first frost October 2
Soil temp (4") 49°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Plant out celeriac

    Pick a cloudy afternoon or evening to plant. Less transplant shock, and your seedlings will barely blink.

  2. Outdoor sowing time: celeriac

    Your soil is 49°F — warm enough for these to germinate without babying.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • Starting indoors: celeriac

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Celeriac is a celery relative grown for its knobby, flavorful root rather than its stalks. It has a rich celery flavor and is excellent roasted, mashed, or in soups.

Carlton County, Minnesota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost is October 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 143 days.

At an elevation of 516 feet, Carlton County receives approximately 32.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Celeriac to ensure they mature before fall.

Carlton County, MN (Zone 4a) Short season
143 days
Last Spring Frost May 12
143 growing days
First Fall Frost October 2

Carlton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Aug 18 – Sep 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (3 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Aug 25 – Sep 29
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 19 Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Sep 13 – Oct 18

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Carlton County

How your county's soil matches Celeriac's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.1) overlaps with Celeriac's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Carlton County is excellent for Celeriac — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.5%) — Celeriac will thrive.

How to Plant Celeriac

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Celeriac

Celeriac needs approximately 0.9 inches of water per week (3.9" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celeriac Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.9" 3.4" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.9" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 3.5" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3.9" 3.4" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2.7" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.9" 2.8" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Carlton County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Celeriac Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Celeriac needs ~1,265 GDD — county provides 1,644 GDD Good fit

Celeriac Planting Timeline — Carlton County, MN

Celeriac Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 31 Mar 31 – Apr 14
Transplant Outdoors May 12 May 12 – May 26
Direct Sow May 5 May 5 – May 26
Harvest August 25 Aug 25 – Sep 29
Fall Sowing July 10 Jul 10 – Jul 24

Plant 1" deep · 15" apart · Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
July Fall Sowing
August Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

143 days in Carlton County

Growing Tips for Celeriac in Carlton County

Direct sow Celeriac outdoors after May 12 in Carlton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Celeriac in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost. Remove side roots as they develop to encourage a single large bulb. Harvest after a light frost for best flavor.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Carrots
  • Parsnip

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celeriac in Carlton County, MN?

Carlton County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 12. Plan your Celeriac planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Carlton County, MN?

Carlton County, Minnesota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and first fall frost is October 2.

🌱

Your Carlton County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Carlton County (Zone 4a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Carlton County, MN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.